New Run and Garden Design

[XanderWiFi]

Been around for a bit. This is the coop and run I was working with before: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/senor-xanders-casa-de-pollo.1219528/ and have been working with it for about 2 years now. But I discovered issues during that time: as composting material built up it blocked water drainage and would make a pool in front of the door during thunderstorms. Chicken tv was harder to watch in that location. The t-posts, while effective, were not as pleasing to my eye. So, I started designing and working on a new plan.

My neighbor does construction and was nice enough to bring surveying equipment and his mini excavator to level two steps. The top one being the new run measuring approx 20x30 ft and the next step down the garden at 30x30 ft. Where the old chicken run was (to the left of the mulched area) I plan to build a small 10x10 greenhouse upon gravel and leveled out.

Behind the mulched area is my wood/property line. It is now the "utility road" for my property to keep things off the grass around the house and it stretches another acre back to protect my drainfield should anything heavy need to be moved through. Next post with next steps.

After leveling (roughly) the areas, I had 20 yds of mulch brought in. Got myself a little helping present to help move that all in a day.

 

[XanderWiFi]

After getting all the material moved back, drilling holes was the next step. Purchased an auger with the tractor to assist with that. I still ended up having to use the post hole digger some but it helped IMMENSELY.

Both my neighbors came over the same day, we bolted some chains to the chicken coop and pulled it up the hill to its new location. This time I put cinder bricks underneath to keep the wood out of the mud and rain. Amish built is extremely sturdy. I could not get the bricks leveled out in time for the move so I will have to come back later and fill in the gaps with concrete to prevent twisting within the frame.

The real fun began next. Plan is to take 4x4x10ft posts, tar two feet of the bottom, plant two feet in the ground, then have three levels of 6 ft 2x4s connecting them all running along the bottom, middle and top. Then two wraps of 4 four ft welded wire with a final topping of aviary netting to cap it off.

Threw in a center post that I am working on a roosting ladder for the girls as extra material presents.

Managed to get one 4 foot wrap done. I used wood working clamps to tighten it down to get *most of the waves out of the fencing. Ran one 100 ft roll all the way around and used poultry nails to tack it down. Probably the most irritating part thus far.

The dirt spot to the left of it all is the old run area and remaining compost. Pure black gold. Still need to finish moving it all (if I could stop clipping the 4x4s with the bucket >:{

We used 6 ft 4x4s for the garden wall. Couldn't move enough dirt to get it all level so we had to step it up and down. No wrapping on that yet.

 

[XanderWiFi]

With one layer of wire done, the big thing missing was a run door. One of the things I hated about the old run was it was a man sized door. This one is 6 foot wide and 8 foot tall. Big enough to get my mower and lawn sweeper in the dump those sweet sweet leaves for the birds to scratch and poop in to make that compost gold. After many youtube views, opted for a half lap cut for the door and managed to get it all together halfway decent. Hanging was super frustrating as I sized it to the exact space permitted between two 4x4s and had to use the angle grinder to shave down some edges to get a snug but manageable fit. This is the first gate I have ever hung and tried to hang correctly. It took way more time than I was expecting...

 

[XanderWiFi]

Just a little tidy up time. Got the water, food, grit and shell inside their coop and up off the ground. Trash can food storage up on a block (bricks just weren't stable enough or high to keep the compost from burying much of it). Tomorrow I aim to complete the second upper wrap and third level of 2x4s and then can pull the aviary netting over. THEN comes the garden area (which the chickens will have a chicken door to access and clean up for us at the end of the season). More to come.

 

[XanderWiFi]

Would love any recommendations or ideas I can use to add more or make it more interesting for the girls!

 

[aart]

SWEET!!

 

[XanderWiFi]

We got the third row up and hung the wire with some staples but could not finish pulling it and securing it due to a storm. Look at those gray clouds in the background. Rain is a bummer...Poor girls sitting in a mud pit currently until I can get more compost up and about.

 

[IamRainey]

What a FABULOUS neighbor! Lucky chickens! Lucky you!

 

[XanderWiFi]

Just got back from a family trip. Managed to get the top row and fencing on before we had to go. Even had time to put the new garden beds together (garden included in build due to chickens having run of it to clean it out).

Also, see attached pictures for cheap idea to stretch your fencing really well but be ready for a forearm and hand work out! Also, how to protect sleeping babies from roaming chickens haha.

 

[aart]

Also, how to protect sleeping babies from roaming chickens haha.

That is precious ...and brilliant!